Chair



Jan.2, 1940. ET PAUL EAL 2 2,185,923

CHAIR Filed June 18, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 2, 1940. E. Tf PAUL.` Er AL CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed` June 18, 1938 IWMNNM w @v i@ 5f E.

E/ul

i5 Ze @arl Patented Jan. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Elihu T. Paul, Corbin, and Carroll D. Carlisle, Middlesboro, Ky., assignors of one-third to Frank Craft, Pikeville, Ky.

Application June 18, 1938, Serial No. 214,542

x2 Claims.

kind of a reclining type andl which can be readily folded orcompacted.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a chair wherein the movable parts thereof are in balance and which is so constructed and assembled that the movable parts of the chair may be readily adjusted into different positions by the mere movement of the head of a person occupying the chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair of this kind so constructed that the moving parts remain in any position in which it may be adjusted.

The invention consists in the details of con struction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of our improved chair whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendereclsimpler,` less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of our invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that our invention may be the better understood, we .will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a chair constructed in accordance with an embodiment of our invention;

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the chair as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3vof Figure l;

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of the chair as herein comprised;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation showing the chair folded or compacted;

Figure'l is a fragmentary view in plan of a seat and back strip constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the "line 8--8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly `in elevation illustrating a modifled detail of construction.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings,

` our improved chair comprises a pair of side or arm members I of desired length and each of which is provided along its upper marginal por- (C1. 15s-ius) This invention relates to a chair, and it is an tion with an arm rest `2. object of the invention to provide a chair of this end portion of each of the side or arm members I is an extremity of a front supporting leg 1 which, when extended for use, is disposed on a downward and forward incline. These legs 1 are conl5 nected by the transverse member 8 suitably secured to the legs 1 closely adjacent to theirouter or free end portions.

Pivotally connected, as at 9, to each of the rear legs 4 at a point spaced from the pivotal mount- 20 ing 3 and preferably inwardly of the longitudinal' center of the leg 4, is an end portion of an elongated bar I0. The opposite end portion of this lbar Ill is pivotally connected, as at II, tothe front leg 1 at the same side of the chair and at a $6 point closely adjacent to the outer orfree end ofv said leg 1. The upper portion of each ofthe front legs 1 at a point spaced from thev pivotal mounting 6 has pivotally connected thereto, as at I2.' an end portion of a straight bar I4. The 80 opposite or outer extremity of this bar I4 isv vhingedly connected, as at I5. with an end portion of a secondy bar I6 which-has its opposite end portion pivotally connnected, as at I1, to the lower end portion of a rear leg 4. The adjacent ends of these bars I4 and I6 are square, as ata, and the hinge I5 is engaged with the lower edge portions thereof so that said square ends a will contact when the bars I4 and I6 are in alignment.y The bar I4, as herein disclosed, is ap- 40 *l proximately twice as long as the bar I6 to facilitate'the folding or compacting of the chair. It will be particularly noted that the character of the hinge I5 and its location is such that the joint will break upwardly. Itis also to be stated thatthe lengths of the bars I4 and I6 are such as to assure said bars remaining substantially f below the top or outer surface of the arm rest 2 when the chair is folded.

The pivot members 3 also provide a pivotal 50 mounting for the lside bars I8 of the back structure. `As herein disclosed, this pivotal mounting vfor the bars I8 is so positioned that when the chair is folded or compacted the lower extremities of the bars I8 will be in close proximityto 55 the forward ends of the adjacent side or arm members I.

'I'he upper end portions of the side bars I8 are connected by a cross rod I9 to which `is secured an end portion of a fabric seat and back strip 20. The opposite end portion of this strip 2U is suitably connected to a cross rod 2| interposed between and carried by the rigid hangers or bars 22. Each of these bars 22 is also pivotally connected, as at 6, to the front end portion of a side or arm member I and the lower extremity of said hanger bar 22 is pivotally connected by a rod 24 to the forward end portion of a side brace bar 25. This brace bar 25 extends rearwardly and is pivotally connected, as at 26, with the lower end Aportion of the adjacent side member I8 of the back structure. The pivots as afforded by the rod 24 and the pivotal connection 26 are spaced apart the same distance as the space between the pivotal connections 3 and B so that the hanger bar 22 and the lower portion of the associated side member I8 are at all times in parallelism whereby the desired folding or compacting of the chair is facilitated.

The rod 24 is common to both sets of hanger bars 22 and side bars 25.

The bars 25 extend a distance in advance of the rod 24 and said extended portions of the bars 25 are connected by an interposed rod 28. Rigidly secured, as at 29, to the rod 24 between the side bars 25 is an outstanding foot rest 30 which is preferably at right angles to the hanger bars 22 at all times. This relative positioning is assured by having-the cross rod 24 xedlly connected to the hanger bars 22 but freely directed through the side bars 25. The foot rest 30, as herein disclosed. v

is formed and constructed as to provide the rearwardly arranged and upstanding back foot rest 3| substantially at right angles to the foot rest 30. This supplemental rest 3| is effective when the chair is in a material reclining position and also provides means to limit the rearward movement of the feet of the occupant of the chair.

The strip 20 hereinbefore referred to may be of stout canvas or other desired woven material a1- though this seat and back strip may be of a type as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. In this particular construction the strip comprises the transverse series of link members 32 of desired material and dimensions with the links of one transverse series lapping the links of the adjacent transverse series and pivotally connected by the pintles 33. A fabric of this kind is extremely iiexible and thus affords all of the advantages of a fabric strip with the further advantage of Aadded strength. A back strip such as illustrated in Figures '7 and 8 is also of advantage in that the chair can be occupied with considerable comfort due to the fact that such a strip will not cling around the person as is the tendency of a. fabric strip.

Carried by the rear edges of the front legs 1 and extending from a point closely adjacent to the tops thereof to a point below the rod 2| are the brackets 33 each proyiding a slot 34 in which is freely received an end portion of a rod 21. This rod 21 provides a stop to be engaged by the bars. 25 to limit the extent of reclining adjustment of the bars I8. When the chair is extended for use the rod 21 will be at the bottom of each of the slots 34 and will be held against endwise displacement by the bars I4. While in this position the bar 21 will interfere with the desired folding of the chair. However, when the rod 21 ls at its limit of movement toward the top of the slots 34 the chair structure may be readily folded to the position shown in Figure 6.

It is to be pointed out at this time that the chair will recline almost to a horizontal position and when fully reclined will not turn over.

In Figure 9 is disclosed the feature of having each of the'front legs 35 provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 36 of desired length through which is directed an'elongated member or shank 31 carried by a cross rod 38 interposed between the front legs. This member or shank 31 outwardly of its associated front leg 35 carries a holding member 39 whereby the rod 38 is held in position. The slots 36 and the coacting mem#- ber 31 permit the rod 38 to have movement' lengthwise of the front legs in substantially the same manner and for the same purpose as hereinbefore mentioned with respect to the brackets 33.

It is believed to be readily apparent that the movable parts of our improved chair as herein disclosed are in substantially perfect balance at all times and that they will readily remain in their various selected adjustments. It has been -`found in practice that the balance of the movable parts of the chair is such that in order to obtain an adjustment while the chair is occupied a rearward adjustment can easily be effected by the mere moving by the occupant of his head rearwardly, or a forward adjustment by the forward movement of the head.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a chair constructed in accordance with our invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated. and it will also be obvious that our invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason we do no wish to be understood as limitingourselves to the preoise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out our invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

l. A chair comprising side armmembers, supporting legs pivotally engaged with the front and rear end portions of said side arm members, bars pivotally engaged with the lower end portions oi A the front legs and with the upper end portions of the rear legs, bars pivotally engaged with the upper portions of the front legs, bars pivotally connected with the lower portions of the rear legs, the last named bars being of a length approximately one-half the length of the second named bars` means for hingedly connecting said two last named bars. said hinge connections breaking in a general direction toward the side arm members to allow the front and rear supporting legs to swing forwardly when collapsing the chair, means for connecting the front legs for unitary swinging movement, means for connecting therear legs for unitary swinging movement. hanger bars pivotally engagedI with 'the forward end portions of the side arm members, elongated back bars pivotally engaged intermediate their ends with the rear end portions of the side arm members, bars pivotally engaged with the lower extremities of the hanger bars and the lower extremities of the back bars, the lower portions of the back bars and the hanger bars being substantially in parallelism at all times. a combined seat and back flexible strip operatively engaged` with the upper portions of the back bars and with the hanger bars, the hanger bars and the lower portions of the back bars also swinging forwardly when the chair4 is collapsed, a rod bridging the space between the front supporting legs, means for holding said rod to said front supporting legs, said means being so constructed and arranged to allow said rod to be bodily shifted along said front supporting legs toward or from the side arm members, said rod whenin a position away from the side arm members providing a stop to be contacted by the lower portions of the back bars to limit the reclining position of said back bars, said rod when bodily shifted toward the side arm members permitting the lower portions of the back bars to be swung closer to the side arm members when the chair is coll lapsed.

'2. A chair comprising side arm members, supporting legs pivotally engaged with the front and rear end portions of said side arm members, bars pivotally engaged with the lower end portions of the front legs and with the upper end portions of -the rear legs, bars pivotally engaged with the upper portions of the front legs, bars pivotally connected with the lower portions of the rear legs, the last 'named bars being of a length approximately one-half the length of the second named bars, means for hingedly connecting said two last named bars, said hinge connections breaking in a general direction toward the side arm members to allow the front and rear supporting legs to swing forwardly when collapsing the chair, means for connecting the front legs for unitary swinging movement, means for connecting the rear legs for unitary swinging movement, hanger bars pivotally engaged with the forward end portions of the side arm members, elorgated back bars pivotally engaged intermediate rtheir ends with the rear end portions of the side arm members, bars pivotally engaged with the lower extremities ofthe hanger barsand the lower extremities of the back bars, the lower portions of the back bars and the hanger bars being substantially in parallelism at all times, a combined seat and back flexible strip operatively engaged with the upper portions of the back bars and with the hanger bars, the hanger-bars and the lower portions of the back bars also swinging forwardly when the chair is collapsed, a rod bridging the space between the front supporting legs, means for holding said rod to said front supporting legs, said means being so constructed and arranged to allow said rod to be bodily'shlfted along said front sup` porting legs toward or from the side arm members, said rod when in a position away from the side arm members providing a stop to be contacted by the lower portions of the back bars to limit the reclining position of said back bars, said rod when bodily shifted toward the` side arm members permitting the lower .portions of the back bars to be swung closer to the side arm members when the chair is collapsed, the swinging movement of the front supporting legs and the hanger bars being about a common axis, the swinging movement of the back bars and the rear supporting legs being also about a common axis.

ELIHU T. PAUL.

CARROLL D. CARLISLE. 

